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Evaluating Tennessee football’s 2023 class at dead period: DL

By Caleb Calhoun

Greenbrier's Nathan Robinson grabs a hold of the Jersey of Cheatham County QB Cooper Owen on Friday, October 9, 2020.Cheat Gbrier Fb7 Dpc 6375
Greenbrier's Nathan Robinson grabs a hold of the Jersey of Cheatham County QB Cooper Owen on Friday, October 9, 2020.Cheat Gbrier Fb7 Dpc 6375 /
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Tennessee defensive lineman Kurott Garland (79) is defended by Tennessee offensive lineman Dayne Davis (66) at the Orange & White spring game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, April 24, 2021.Kns Vols Spring Game
Tennessee defensive lineman Kurott Garland (79) is defended by Tennessee offensive lineman Dayne Davis (66) at the Orange & White spring game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, April 24, 2021.Kns Vols Spring Game /

DL on roster who will still be eligible in 2023

Kurott Garland (r-Senior)

Omari Thomas (Junior)

Elijah Simmons (r-Junior)

Da’Jon Terry (r-Junior)

Bryson Eason (r-Sophomore)

Dominic Bailey (r-Sophomore)

Tyre West (Freshman)

Jayson Jenkins (Freshman)

Jordan Phillips (Freshman)

Amari McNeill (r-Freshman)

Austin Lewis (r-Senior)

Maurese Smith (r-Senior)

Isaac Green (r-Junior)

Camron Douglas (Freshman)

Joshua Helsdon (Freshman)

Similar to LaTrell Bumphus, Kurott Garland is an experienced defensive lineman for Tennessee football from the Jeremy Pruitt days. Omari Thomas, Elijah Simmons and Da’Jon Terry all gained experience last year when Heupel arrived. Now, Garland will be gone by 2024, and if Thomas has a season similar to last year, he could be gone too.

However, Simmons and Terry could actually stay until 2024, and they are both pure defensive tackles. Dominic Bailey is a hybrid defensive tackle set to fill the void left by Caleb Tremblay and Ja’Quain Blakely, and Bryson Eason should be in line after Bumphus and Garland.

Add in freshman Tyre West and Amari McNeill’s conversion to that side of the ball, and the Vols are set on the inside to be able to go two-deep for at least the next two years. In terms of hybrid defensive linemen, Austin Lewis brings four years of experience with the ETSU Bucs and has two years of eligibility left.

Lewis and Bailey keep Tennessee football set at that role to go two-deep in that role with some level of experience through 2024, and Jayson Jenkins adds to that for the future.Jordan Phillips is another true freshman who can help with depth in the middle.

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